Winless pre-season a puzzle for Cats
J. Stewart 3, D. Smith 2, J. Green 2, J. Stringer 2, C. McKenna, D. Parish, D. Zaharakis, J. Daniher, J. Long, Z. Merrett. T. Hawkins 5, D. Menzel 4, C. Guthrie, J. Thurlow, M. Blicavs, M. Duncan, M. O’Connor, T. Kelly. Z. Merrett, A. McGrath, J. Stewart, D. Heppell, M. Gleeson, D. Smith. T. Hawkins, J. Selwood, M. Duncan, D. Menzel, H. Taylor, C. Guthrie. M Gleeson (ankle). P Dangerfield (hamstring) R 9115 at Central Reserve, Colac, yesterday Stanley (calf). THE pieces are on the table. But the selection puzzle is far from complete for Geelong as it heads into its Round 1 clash with Melbourne at the MCG.
The Cats finished their preseason winless, ending their JLT Community series with a four-point loss to Essendon in Colac yesterday.
Geelong was solid without being spectacular, putting in an improved performance from the comprehensive loss to Gold Coast a week ago. But there is no need for alarm.
The Cats lost champion Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring) in the first quarter, while Joel Selwood was used sparingly in the last quarter as the Bombers came back from 27 points down at three-quarter-time to win.
Selwood finished with 35 touches, while Mitch Duncan had it 38 times and Zach Tuohy 28. The trio has lost nothing over the summer and will be pillars again in 2018.
Geelong also used both games to trial a few things with an eye to the real stuff and were without regulars including Lachie Henderson, Scott Selwood, Sam Menegola and Gary Ablett in yesterday’s defeat.
However the intrigue lies in the forward line.
And it is probably the area that will give coach Chris Scott headaches come the team selection meeting heading into Geelong’s season opener.
There are legitimately four positions up for grabs in Gee- long’s attack and many of the contenders appear to be evenly placed in the pecking order.
Tom Hawkins, who kicked five goals against the Bombers, will undoubtedly be in the team as the linchpin and prime target.
Daniel Menzel, who was a shock omission in Geelong’s finals loss to Richmond late last year, was yesterday leaping and marking the ball the best he probably has since returning from a series of knee injuries.
He finished yesterday’s practice game with four goals and should also have cemented a spot.
From there it is up in the air. We have seen a number of players trialled for spurts in attack across the two games.
Gryan Miers, Jamaine Jones, Esava Ratugolea and James Parsons played both JLT Series matches, while Cory Gregson ( Gold Coast) and Brandan Parfitt (Essendon) played the one.
Nakia Cockatoo, Lincoln McCarthy and Stewart Crameri would also be close to the senior team if fit, but the trio has not played a minute competitively in 2018.
It adds extra spice to Geelong’s VFL practice match this Friday night, with Crameri and Cockatoo likely to play to push their last-minute case for Round 1.
Ratugolea has improved his body shape in the off-season, but has played his football in patches and still looks a fair way off playing AFL consistently.
The fact he was selected to play Essendon ahead of Wylie Buzza might suggest he is slightly above the big-haired forward in Geelong’s thinking.
Tim Kelly (13 touches) seems certain to play Round 1 too. He will spend his time between the forward line and midfield, but could find himself further up the ground if Gary Ablett (hamstring) and Dangerfield miss with injury.
It opens the door for Miers to be a potential Round 1 dark horse, with his eye for goal and movement a highlight through the pre-season. He was patchy against the Bombers, finishing with 11 touches.
Parfitt (10 touches) and Parsons (11 touches) will also be in contention, despite finishing goalless against the Dons.
Forward coach Corey Enright said he was happy to have a selection headache heading into Round 1.
“I think it’s a good thing,” Enright said. “We know what Hawkins and Menzel can do but there’s a lot of guys that are putting their hand up. I guess they all provide something different as well.”